Collapsible clothes hanger



Sept. 29,1970 F. B. VAZQUEZ 355311 V I COLLAPSIBLE CLOTHES HANGER .FiledFeb. 28, 1969 s'shets sheet 1 Fro bk B'Vazquez 1 ATTORNEYS BY I INVENTORSept. 29, 1970 Filed Feb. 28, 1969 F. B. VAZQUEZ COLLAPSIBLE CLOTHESHANGER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Hank B. Vazquez ATTORNEYS Spt; 29, 1970F. B. 'vAzQuEi COLLAPSIBLE CLOTHES HANGER 3 sheqtssheet 3 Filed Feb. 28,1969 ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 223-94 12 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A collapsible clothes hanger of unitary constructionincluding a hook portion, opposed arms extending outwardly below, and inspaced relation to, the hook portion, connector arms resilientthroughout their lengths joining the hook portion to an intermediatesection of each arm. A guide member depends from the hook portionbetween the connector arms, the guide member having guideways. The innerterminals of the arms are provided with guidelegs for sliding movementalong the guideways upon folding or unfolding of the arms by flexingaction of the connector arms. The guideway terminals are transverselygrooved to receive the arm terminals for locking the clothes hanger inunfolded position for use. The remote terminals of the arms are providedwith interengaging elements for locking the clothes hanger in foldedposition for storage. Article gripping devices are carried by anintermediate part of each arm.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide acollapsible clothes hanger of unitary construction having arms which maybe flexed to an unfolded position for using the hanger, or to a foldedposition for storage when not in use.

Another object is to provide a collapsible clothes hanger of thecharacter described, wherein guide means are provided for insuringuniplanar movement of said arms upon relocation thereof to the folded orunfolded positions and for stabilizing the arms when in the unfoldedposition.

A further object is to provide a collapsible clothes hanger havinginterengaging elements for locking the hanger in either folded orunfolded positions.

A still further object is to provide a collapsible clothes hanger havingarticle gripping means removably connected to, and mounted, on theclothes hanger.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description of thepresently preferred form of the present invention, taken in conjunctionwith the appended drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of thecollapsible clothes hanger of the present invention, showing the same infolded position;

, FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the clothes hanger inunlocked, partially open position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines 3--3 of FIG. 2, lookingin the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the collapsible clothes hanger ofthe present invention, showing the latter in fully open, unfoldedposition;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevational view of a portion ofthe present hanger, showing the same in fully folded position;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the hanger in partiallyunfolded position;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIGS. 5 and 6 showing the hanger in a moreopen position then in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, showing thehanger in fully open, locked position;

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FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the lines 9-9 of FIG. 8, lookingin the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a guide member forming a part of thepresent invention;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view of a hanger arm, showing toadvantage guide legs forming a part of the present invention, and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 1212 of FIG. 2, lookingin the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The collapsible clothes hanger of thepresent invention is preferably of unitary, molded construction made ofany suitable material capable of flexing, such as polypropylene, highimpacted styrene or nylon.

The hanger of the present invention includes a hook member 20, from thelower limit of which issues a connector unit 22 joined at its lowerlimit to an arm assembly 24. An arm guide assembly 26 depends from hookmember 20 between the component parts of the connector unit.

Connector unit 22 includes a pair of flexible connector members 28 and30 of elongated, curvilinear construction, which extend downwardly andoutwardly for engagement with intermediate portions of arm assembly 24.Members 28 and 30 are of inherently resilient construction throughouttheir lengths.

Arm assembly 24 embodies a pair of elongated arm members which aregenerally T-shape in cross section, as shown to advantage in FIG. 12,and include transverse sections 32 and 34 having an upper arcuatesurface, and perpendicular sections 36 and 38. Intermediate theirlengths, the upper limits of perpendicular sections 36 and 38 areprovided with longitudinal slots 40 and 42 each of which is divided byribs 44 and 46. Adjacent slots 40 and 42, perpendicular sections 36 and38 are thickened as indicated at 48 and 50 for purposes which will behereinafter more fully set out.

Adjacent the outer limit of slots 40 and 42, transverse sections 32 and34 are depressed as indicated at 52 and 54. Terminal extensions 56 and58 of transverse sections 32 and 34 are spaced therefrom, therebyforming slots 60- and 62, adapted to receive, for example, the straps ofdresses which are supported by depressed sections 52 and 54. The outerterminalsof depressed sections 52 and 54 engage an intermediate part ofextensions 56 and 58 so that a portion overhangs slots 60 and 62 toprevent accidental disengagement of clothing from the slots.

The extreme terminals of extensions 56 and 58 are directed inwardly ofthe hanger, when viewed in its folded position, and terminates in abifurcated element 64 extending transversely of extension 56, therebyforming a locking groove 66 for engagement with a complemental maleelement 68 carried by the extreme terminal portion of extension 58.

Opposite faces of the outer terminals of perpendicular sections 36 and38 are provided with hollow pegs 70 and 72 adapted for the reception ofarticle gripping devices 74 and 76, the hook portions gripping devicesbeing in frictional engagement with the pegs for storing the same whennot in use. Article gripping devices 74 and 76 may be of the sameconstruction as illustrated in my previously granted Pat. No. 3,405,429.

The inner, adjacent terminals of sections 32 and 34 are angularlydisposed with respect to the sections, as indicated at 78 and 80, theextreme lateral terminals thereof being extended to form facing rightangular guide legs 82 and 84 respectively, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and11, and forming T-shape slots 86 and 88- respectively. It will be notedfrom a consideration of FIGS. 1 to 8 that legs 82 and 84 extend upwardlyand outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of terminal portions78 and of arm assembly 24.

As shown in FIG. 10, arm guide assembly 26 includes an elongated, flat,rectangular, stationry guide member 90 which extends vertically downwardfrom hook member 20, as viewed in the drawings, between connectors 28and 30. Guide posts 92 and 9-4 extend outwardly perpendicularly alongthe longitudinal axis of member 90 from a point spaced from theterminals thereof to a point below the lower limit at which point theguide posts are connected. The upper portion of each guide post isbeveled as indicated at 96 and 98.

A generally U-shaped alignment member designated 100 is adapted toreceive guide posts 92 and 94, and member 90, the longitudinal axis ofwhich alignment member is at right angles to the plane of the guideposts. Alignment member 100 includes the transverse portion 102 theterminals of which issue into upwardly extending legs 104 and 106 whichare in contiguous relation with the outer limits of guide posts 92 and94. The upper limits of legs 104 and 106 are below, and in spacedrelation to, the beveled portions 96 and 98 of guide posts 92 and 94.

Near the upper limits of legs 104 and 106, both lateral edges thereofare beveled inwardly as indicated at 108 and 110. It will be noted thatthe length of legs 104 and 106 is slightly less than the distancebetween legs 82 at its widest extent. There is thereby formed aplurality of guideways on each side of member 90- indicated at 112 and114 for the reception of legs 82 and 84 of the arm members. Legs 104 and106 are provided with external longitudinal grooves 116 and 118 whichcomplement, and are adapted to receive the terminals of arm extensions78 and 80.

'It will be noted from a consideration of the drawings that when thehanger is in the folded position illustrated in FIG. 1, connectormembers 28 and 30 are unfiexed but that when the hanger is unfolded tothe position shown in FIG. 4, connector members 28 and 30 flex to abowed position, thereby exerting forces on the arm assembly in adirection to retain the terminals of extensions 78 and 80 firmly inrecesses 116 and 118 to prevent accidental disengagement and consequentfolding of the hanger under the influence of bowed connector members 28and 30'.

OPERATION The collapsible hanger of the present invention is normallyshipped and stored in the position shown in FIG. 1 with locking elements66 and 68 in interengaged position and article gripping devices 74 and76 frictionally engaged with pegs 70 and 72. Upon disengagement ofinterlocking elements 66 and 68, the arm members comprising assembly 24are swung upwardly and outwardly against the tension of connector arms28 and 30*. During this operation, the lower limits of sections 36 and38 subjacent extensions 78 and 80 slideably engage bevel portions 96 and98 of guide posts 92 and 94, as shown in FIG. 6. Continued upward andoutward movement of the arms causes the terminal portions of extensions78 and 80 to drop downwardly onto the top of legs 104 and 106 ofalignment member 100 as shown in FIG. 7. Bevels 108 and 110 effectcentering of the arm members of arm assembly 24, and continued upwardand outward movement of the arms results in engagement of the terminalsof portions 78 and 80 in grooves 116 and 118. At this time, thecollapsible clothes hanger is in the unfolded, operative position shownin FIG. 4.

Article gripping devices 74 and 76 are then removed from post 70- and 72and the hook portions placed through slots 40 and 42 in frictionalengagement with thickened portions 48 and 50 of perpendicular sections36 and 38. Devices 74 and 76 may be placed at any point along slots 40and 42 on either side of ribs 44 and 46.

The hanger is collapsed by exerting force on the arms in a direction toremove the terminals of extension 78 and 80 from grooves 116 and 118.Following this, legs 82 and 84 move upwardly through giudeways 112 and114 under the flexing influence of connector arms 28 and 30.Interengageable elements 66 and 68 are then frictionally engaged witheach other to return the hanger to its folded position for storage.Article gripping devices 74 and 76 are returned to engagement with pegsand 72.

The collapsible hanger of the present invention does not require anumber of extraneous, assembled parts which must be assembled, butrather a monolithic, unit which is readily and economically manufacturedembodying flexible connectors for folding and unfolding the hanger.Positive looking elements for both the folded and unfolded positionsprevent accidental movement of the hanger arms to a partially unfoldedposition.

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible clothes hanger including (a) a support member,

(b) arms below said supporting member,

(c) flexible means joining said supporting member to said arms to permitfolding and unfolding of said arms.

2. The collapsible clothes hanger of claim 1, wherein (a) said guidemeans is provided with a transverse groove for receiving the terminalsof said arms, to lock the hanger in unfolded position.

3. The collapsible clothes hanger of claim 2, with the addition of (a)interengaging locking elements carried by the opposite terminals of saidarms for locking the hanger in folded position.

4. The collapsible clothes hanger of claim 3, wherein (a) said supportmember, arms and flexible means are of unitary construction.

5,. The collapsible clothes hanger of claim 1, wherein (a) said flexiblemeans comprises connectors which are resilient throughout their lengths.

6. The collapsible clothes hanger of claim 1, with the addition of (a)article gripping devices,

(b) each of said article gripping devices being detachably connected toone of said arms.

7. A collapsible clothes hanger including (a) a hook portion,

(b) a pair of arms below, and extending outwardly from said hookportion,

(c) connectors joining said hook portion to intermediate portions ofsaid arms,

(d) said connectors being resilient throughout their lengths,

(e) a guide member depending from said hook portion and lying betweensaid connectors,

(f) extension means carried by the inner terminals of said arms forsliding engagement with said guide member to insure uniplanar movementof the arms.

8. The collapsible clothes hanger of claim 7, wherein (a) said guidemember is of elongated flat construction,

(b) the faces of said guide member being in opposed relation to theterminals of said arms,

(c) said guide member being provided with a centering post extendingcentrally and longitudinally of both faces of said guide member,providing guideways on each side of said centering post.

9. The collapsible clothes hanger of claim 8, wherein (a) said extensionmeans comprise spaced upwardly and inwardly directed guide elements ofright angle construction for sliding movement in the guideways when thearms are to the folded and unfolded positions.

10. The collapsible clothes hanger of claim 7, wherein (a) the lowerportion of both faces of said guide member include a transverse grooveadapted for the reception of a terminal of each arm, for locking thehanger in unfolded position.

11. The collapsible clothes hanger of claim 7, wherein (a) one of theremote terminals of one of said arms being provided with a lockinggroove,

(b) the remote terminal of the other of said arms References Cited beingformed to provide a complemental male ele- UNITED STATES PATENTS ment,for frictional engagement with said locking groove, for locking thehanger in folded position. 2,586,913 2/1952 Bums 223 94 12. Thecollapsible clothes hanger of claim 7, with 27281499 12/1955 Mueller22394 the addition of 5 2,831,965 4/1959 Fetko 223--94 (a) pegs carriedby at least one of said arms, and 3151788 10/1964 Wmgate 223-94 XR (b)article gripping devices detachably mounted on 3401855 9/1968 Ballet et22394 said pegs,

(c) said article gripping devices being removable from w JORDANFRANKLINjPrimary Examiner said pegs for connection to said arms, G. H.KRIZMANICHfAssistant Examiner

